Vundavalli pooh-poohs CM’s claims on Pattiseema

Rajamahendravaram: Former MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar has ridiculed the State government’s claims that it had diverted 80 tmcft of Godavari water to Krishna delta through Pattiseema project. He dared the government to an open discussion on the subject.

Addressing media conference here on Friday, Vundavalli said one lakh cusecs of Godavari water and 40,000 cusecs of Krishna water will go into sea every year.

He said if the government is really committed to make Andhra Pradesh a drought-free State, it should complete the Polavaram project first, which is the lifeline of Krishna delta. He informed that the government spent Rs 1,600 crore for the construction of Pattiseema project.

He alleged that the State government wasted public money to the tune of Rs 400 crore and added that the contractors benefitted a lot from the project.

He explained that Polavaram is a reservoir and Pattiseema is a lift irrigation project. Water has to be drawn through lift irrigation only during Godavari floods, but even this will not be possible in case Krishna floods occur at the same time, he added. Senior leaders Podipireddy Atchuta Desai, Nakka Nagesh and others were present.